Every Saffron bicycle is unique… but some are more unique than others. George Orwell (1) would probably cringe at the thought of this phrase, but this Stainless steel bicycle for John is about as “un-equal” as they come. Which also meant a few maiden attributes to the build.

John wanted a naked frame – a first for Saffron Frameworks – which would be suitable for “urban riding”. Concisely put, he asked for a bike that “fits well, rides well, is designed with lugs, but is left completely naked”.

John lives well outside the shores of the UK, in Singapore – another first for Saffron Frameworks. And Singapore being a city of high humidity, is well-suited to the Reynolds 953 tubeset which is stainless steel and therefore not susceptible to the corrosion of ordinary steel. And of course, the request to leave it “bare” to the elements meant that resistance to corrosion became all the more important.

The lugs I started with were fleur de lys (literally translated into “flower lily”), but after a bit of cutting and carving I came up with a design that suited the frame, the rider and the components. When it came to the finishings, some parts are polished and others are brushed stainless steel. All the lugs were polished, which subtly allowed us to highlight their design.

The total weight of the bike came in at a neat 7.8kg, owing to this is the carbon belt drive and the beautifully light carbon clinchers.

Overall we ended up with a bicycle with a mix of classical and modern twists. Which is now rolling around Singapore in all its naked glory.

(1)”All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others”. George Orwell, Animal Farm

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